Sherefa Mohamed
The extremists’ major agenda is to weaken the unity of the Muslim community, to destroy the places of worship, heritages and identity of the religion, and to dilute or completely nudge of Islam’s long history. In their effort to implement these basic agendas, it’s the Muslim community that’s the main loser in all this.
There can’t be anyone closer than the Muslim community to counter these extremists who are striving for our downfall. There can’t be any member from the Muslim community that would be passive about this issue.
When the faith of the Muslim community is being eroded; when its demanded to follow the faith of others while its own is taken away from it; when hindrances are put on its freedom of religion; when situation that would led it to violence, riot and chaos are orchestrated; when the identity of its faith is destroyed; and when the peace of its place of worship and kids’ school are shaken, it cannot look as a bystander.
It will rather expose these elements to the law or putting them in line. Identifying and fighting off these extremists; putting in line those who have crossed the right path are the basic things that are expected of the Muslim community.
Deterring the activities that weakens its religion; that erodes long standing identity and brotherhood within the community; and that destroys its tradition of tolerance, are among the activities that’s expected of the Muslim community. This extremist squad is working actively to destroy places of worship and heritages of the religion.
What possible religious motive lies behind destroying the identity of Islam and the followers of the religion? There is no need to provide any additional proof that the heart of the extremists doesn’t lie with Allah – this is more than enough evidence.
Thus, the Muslim community should be vigilant on these pseudo-religious enemies of Islam and protect places of worship and heritages of the religion. The other thing that’s expected of the Muslim community is not to be manipulated by the extremists’ fundamentalist, dividing and violence igniting writings.
The main objective of the writings that are put out by various extremist media outlets, including ‘Selafia’, is to manipulate and drag the Muslim community to an unnecessary bickering and confrontation. It’s a plot to push members of the Muslim community to destroy their own self identity.
As destroying sacred religious and historical places is the main agenda of the extremists, they use various Medias to inflict confusion within the Muslim community. This is to disorient the Muslim community out of its correct identity, thereby forcing it to adhere to their own extremist ways.
Its widely known that these place of worships and religious heritages have two basic benefits. One is, as these sacred places are the identifier of the Muslim community where the religion followers connect with their God; they are the spiritual home of the Muslim community. These religious places and heritages are not only home to the Muslim community, but they are also heritages of the country as well.
It’s obvious that religious places clinch the top spot when it comes to the country’s top tourist destinations. Thus, its expected of the Muslim community to protect these places and heritages against the extremists. This duty is of course not left only to the community.
The government’s support is crucial. So, the government should give due attention to the issue, as upholding the law and protecting the country’s cultural wealth from vultures falls under the duty of the government.
However, the Muslim community still has to carry out its own role in marginalizing and bringing the extremists to justice. Extremism brings destruction, unending civil conflict and violence, and loss of religious identity unto the Muslim community. This is because these people are aiming for earthly power rather than heavenly divinity.
The Muslim community should be weary of this, and should fight and condemn it. The main agenda of the extremists is to squeeze their way into power even if it means the loss of innocent civilian lives, the destruction of various governmental and public institutions, civil strife and an unstable nation.
So long as they realize their objective of setting up religious political power, they won’t bat an eye from carrying out terror acts, as they did at various times and place. As a result, it’s not that hard to understand that these extremists don’t have real and genuine religious mission. If necessary, it’s easy to present many evidences of this.
Their effort to destroy places of worship and religious heritages of Islam by creating a stir within the Muslim community is one. And then there is their day-to-day chain of working relationship.
There are a lot of instances that suggests they are the right hand man of ‘Ginbot 7’. One of the working agenda of ‘ESAT’, a personal mouthpiece of the terrorist organization, is to give huge coverage to the extremists. With this, it’s working as the private mouth of the extremists.
If we ask the question, ‘Why is the terrorist organization ‘Ginbot 7’ personal mouthpiece serving as a personal lobbyist of the extremists who operate under the name of religion?’ the answer would be to hinder the development, peace and democracy ascent of Ethiopia.
To dilute the peace and stability of the country by undertaking terrorist acts within it. It’s to blacken the name of Ethiopia and Ethiopians and tarnish the image of the country, on top of begging around the porch of every country’s embassy for them to stop their humanitarian and developmental support to Ethiopia.
Its their dream to ascent to power through the opportunities that would be created from this chaos. This is what the extremists and these forces are after. Had they have any religious mission other than to operate under the tutelage of ‘Wahabia’, they would have not aligned with the politically motivated ‘Ginbot 7’. Understanding this pseudo-religious politicians’ game, the Muslim community should fight them off.
The Eritrean government is the other partner in crime of the extremists. I’m sure the Muslim community is privy to the fact that the Eritrean government, which is currently in total plight and loss of hope, is exacerbating the Violence and conflict in Somalia by supporting Al-Shabaab.
The extremists that are working to divide the Muslim community have a strong relationship with the Eritrean government. The Muslim community should be aware of this, and must fight not to be used for this end.
The Muslim community should also be aware to the fact that these extremists have strong ties to Al-Shabaab, Al-Qaeda and to other countries that support these terrorist organizations.
In addition to this, it has formed an alliance with the exiled Synod that’s situated at US. The synod has issued a statement supporting the violence and conflict that’s brewing within the Muslim community.
My fellow Muslims; we stand in front of Allah for our religion’ sake. However, we should close the door that would allow our religion to be merchandised by bankrupt politicians and terrorists.
We stand for the truth in front of Allah. Anyone that stands to destroy the identity of Islam is a traitor, and not in the side of Allah. We should stand united against them. Working for political ends under the guise of religion that we rampantly see rooting within the Muslim community had been and still currently is in display in Christianity as well. This is done through the members of the terrorist group ‘Ginbot 7’.
Recently a member of ‘Ginbot 7’ entered in G-8 meeting hosted at the US under the name of a journalist. After he entered in this media open meeting, he acted in manner that’s not to be expected out of a journalist. The Obama administration angered at his antics decided to take measures against this man.
It passed an impasse on the individual not to participate in any governmental or nongovernmental assembly that’s hosted at the US. This same shameless person has been amplifying an agenda of extremism by presenting many reports that would intensify the divide that befallen on the Muslim community through a network called ‘ESAT’.
Again this individual, transforming himself from a journalist into a religious monk, started to preach at the St. Gabriel church of Seattle only to change gear into waging a fruitless political campaign.
After this stunt of his that took place in a sacred place of worship was disseminated around the world, it shocked many people. It outraged them in that these bankrupt politicians are degrading sacred religious places.
The extremists’ syndicate is not only a set of bankrupt politicians, but it’s also part of the international terror network that’s evermore growing in our country. According to some information, more than 12 countries give the extremists monetary support.
The syndicate is much in the vein of Al-Shabaab and Al-Qaeda. Both of them are groups that operate to wreck havoc around the world. Hadn’t been for their limited capabilities, their wish is to create a central religious government that would administer the world. Their main agenda is to guarantee the reign of their own religion upon the followers of other religions by stifling citizen’s democratic and human rights.
This set of extremists, which is parading under the guise of religion, main attraction is anti-democracy and anti-religion. One of the demands its raises is for the followers of other sect of Islam around the country to stop their faith and subscribe to its own brand of doctrine.
And this not only erode the freedom of religion of citizens that’s enshrined in our constitution, but it also a path that aims to put anarchy in place and so its illegal. Knowing and understanding this thoroughly, the Muslim community should fight united to protect and respect its constitutional right.
The lackeys of Al-Shabaab and Al-Qaeda won’t back down from weakening, and if possible destroying, Islam if they have their way. This campaign is a dangerous move that both sabotages the country’s constitution and citizens’ religious rights.
It aims to drive the Muslim into chaos and unending conflict. This is why the Muslim community and the rest of the society for that matter should condemn and fight against extremism.
So far many instances that point to the fact that the extremists inclines to political objective rather than religious mission have been established. Also, it is tries to shade light into the extremists chain of relation, which lies with terrorist forces that wants to destroy Ethiopia.
Efforts aimed at showing what the Muslim community should do not to deviate from the teachings of Allah, or not to lose track have also been made – also considering the difference that’s engulfing between Islam followers in our country is not the way of Allah.
By infiltrating through the public, these extremists with their agenda of “The teachings of ‘Ahbash’ should be stopped; and only our own adhered faith should be preached – other than ours, the rest should be kicked out”, are currently wreaking havoc in the country.
They have beaten and threatened many Muslims, Imams and Muezzins. It has been confirmed that these extremists are supported by various foreign religious fundamentalist organizations.
Unless the Islamic organizations, Mosques and Jem’as are forced to adhere to their faith, they resort to taking forceful measures on those who they can afford to be forceful on, and threaten and intimidate those who they can’t be forceful upon.
First, the Muslim community should thoroughly know the extremists inner identity. Then, it should work hand in hand with the government and other peace loving people to stop them from operating and profiteering under the name of its religion.
These extremists won’t back down from trying to undermine the history of Islam by destroying the religion’s heritages and sacred places. Its repercussions won’t be easy. As lawlessness should be stopped, there should not be any member of the Muslim community that passively looks by, including government officials. Likewise, other peace loving communities should also work as much.
Based on the aforementioned instances, the question ‘what’s expected of the Muslim community?’ would be raised. And in order to give answer to the above question, the following main issues should be looked at with focus. As we all know, defending and telling the truth is heavenly.
In the name of Allah, we will give our testament. Allah doesn’t want lies, violence and conflict. In the end, we are all going to him, and lying will put us accountable in front of him. And why is the Muslim community intimidated by the threats of the extremists?
As per the teachings of our religion fathers, and as it reads on the Quran, it says ‘don’t fear them, only fear me’. These pseudo-religious extremists are not with Allah, and so we should not fear them.
There’s no teaching of Allah that says kill fellow human; there’s no spiritual teachings and power he bestowed on an individual for that person to declare himself as ‘the all=knowing’; and though it would be repeating what the Muslim community is fully aware of, but “there is no one perfect other than Allah”.
However, nowadays extremists with their ‘we are the only saints and pure; you should follow us’ rhetoric, are operating to forcefully impose their own will and mission that they took up from foreigners.
These people are not with Allah, and the Muslim community should fight them off. As they don’t have pure religious mission, they should be condemned. They shouldn’t be given the time and place for them to analyze our religion or disintegrate our unity.
The community shouldn’t be confused and perplexed every time false prophets comes gunning for them. As per the divination that prophesized false prophets comes in plenty and threaten their own friends; they’ll demand to be followed and they will go as far as killing their friends; they will destroy history and faith, but “don’t fear them, as they are not Allah,” says (Quran Ali-Imra 3:175).
The Muslim community should move to fight off the extremists who are operating to destroy its religion and erode its unity; to bring them to justice and expose them to the light. Islam in our country has for very long time existed in harmony with the other religions.
The country is home for every religion followers where they exist cooperatively. However, the extremists’ doctrine drags even the Muslim community into civil strife and violence, let alone peacefully coexisting with other religions.
The extremists group forces to drag the Muslim community into conflict, civil clash and deviate it from its faith in any way possible. And this path conflicts with the teachings and commands of Allah.
These people have betrayed their own religion and they are in it for their own skin. They are working to implement a faith that deviates from the faith the Muslim community adheres to. They are political lackeys that masquerade in the name of religion.
Of course the teaching of Allah says “there are those within you that want this world; and those who seek the divinity of the next world”. We are currently seeing extremists that are after the sweet of this world, who want to reign in this world by governing it.
In complete opposite to the ways of Allah, these people are operating to destroy tolerance and brotherhood within religious followers by preaching brother to kill his own brother.
Thus, anyone who seeks Jannah and Ikram, should protect himself and the whole Muslim from the poison of traitors and extremists along with their minions. This extremists group that has waged ‘anti-Islam’ campaign is a set of bankrupt politicians and rent-seeking Muslims.
And the government has the duty to uphold the rights of every citizen equally. However, there will be no procedure or situation where it will command religion followers, thereby meddling in religious affair. The country’s constitution doesn’t allow for it to do that. Thus, it wasn’t able to host the demand ‘stop the teaching of ‘Al-Ahbash’.
The law allows for any other sects to preach their respective faiths (whether it’s ‘Ahbash’ or not), without any threat whatsoever, so long as they don’t deviate from their religious confines. What’s causing a stir is not the preaching of a religious teaching, or an issue of freedom of religion or lack of place of worship.
These type of demands existed two decades ago. During those times, Muslims used to be persecuted and used to be made to carry out their religious duty in the small places of worship they had.
Those were tines where they used to be jailed, beaten and killed for assembling. Not to dwell further on an issue every Muslim knows intimately, now those days are long gone.
Now the Muslim community celebrates its religious holidays in a lively way. The community has been able to build up to 70 thousand places of worship. It’s freely carrying out any activities that have to do with its religion.
In a country where freedom of religion is guaranteed, any group that tries to stifle other religions’ teachings should not mad to have a legal base. What extremism is doing today in our country is eroding and diluting the base of the Islam.
So, every member of the Muslim community, for the sake of the Dina, should fight off and bring to justice those that are trying to violate our Islamic activities and dilute our peace.
As the extremists and fundamentalists aim to dilute the country’s peace and drag the Muslim community into civil clash and violence, we should discuss in our Mosques, Madrasas, Ju’mahs, work, neighborhood, and in our community work for solution to the situation.
We have to protect ourselves and religion from the extremists group that are working to destroy our religion’s sacred places and heritages. This same group is trying to create confusion within the public by using various Medias. ‘Selafia’ is continuing with its reporting that aims at dismantling the unity of the Muslim community.
Other extremist newspapers are joining the act thinking it would intensify the problem and disturb the country’s peace. And the Muslim community should protect itself not to be a victim of these newspapers, and also should teach others not to be one.
Its expected of us to convince our children or to any Muslim we know that these extremists have a hidden agenda, along with creating disorder at every mosques and places of worship during prayer times.
Also as the media campaign involves members of the terrorist organization ‘Ginbot 7’ and other oppositions; we should expose the anti-people antics of these extremists. It should be noted that we are not doing all this for EPRDF.
It’s not for the government either, but to seek the truth in front of Allah, and in order for us to protect our people from danger and save our religion. Allah is the way of truth, love and peace. He teaches us not to testify with lies.
Today, if we came out and say the rights of Muslims in Ethiopia are violated, and have lost their religious freedom, he will judge us; as he has bestowed freedom of religion upon us through his own miracle.
As these people; who are pushing us to testify with lies and say that there is no religion freedom, are not with Allah and merchandise in the name of Islam for their own gain, we should fight them off together.
We should fearlessly teach the public about the real identity of these extremists at every junction, so that the people can pinpoint the enemies of Islam that are trying to erode the unity of Muslims and to be beware of them.
It’s important to include the whole Muslim community in the fight against the extremists. It’s also important to teach about the emptiness of their propaganda and indoctrination activities. Bringing back those who unknowingly and naively deviated from line thinking they are on the side of Allah is expected of us.
As the extremists hatched plot only divides and clashes the Muslim community and stifles it from exercising its freedom of religion, there should awareness creation programs about the extremists at various institutions, organization and public places, so that anti-peace forces like them are marginalized from the wider public. It’s also expected of us to identify those manipulated by the extremists, and show them the correct path.
We should thoroughly investigate the reports that are put out, through various Medias, concerning the Muslim community, as opposed to being manipulated and confused by their unfounded rumors.
Thus, we members of the Muslim community situated either in universities, collages, schools, mosques or other paces, we should work hand-in-hand to protect our people from the threats the extremists pose, and also to foil their sinister plot.